Babes Love Baseball

Cole Hamels Becomes a Man

2008-05-16T06:47:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are in order for Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels, who earned his first career shutout Thursday evening with a 5-0 blanking of the Atlanta Braves.

Lowering his ERA from 3.36 to 2.89, Hamels (5-3) was pumped to be able to finish the game. After 120 pitches, he surrendered just four hits, struck out six and walked two. Only two runners even reached second base as the lefty retired 15 in a row from the first to sixth innings.

Not only was he lights out on the hill, he also tied a career high with two hits, raising his batting average to .320. High five.

[Sports Network] | [Phillies Homeplate] | [Phightin' Phils Phorum]

Did I Catch a Niner in There?

2008-05-16T06:43:00.004-05:00

Brandon Webb is on fire.

The Arizona Diamondbacks righty is now a ridiculous 9-0 with a 2.56 ERA and 49 strikeouts over his first nine starts this season. Totally out of control. He's actually on a roll from last September, having won his final two starts of the 2007 season.

According to Elias, Webb is just one consecutive win behind former San Diego Padres hurler Andy Hawkins, won his first 10 in 1985.

Webb can thank not only his sweet sinker, but also Stephen Drew for his latest shroud of run support, as the shortstop singled in the first, tripled in the third and doubled in the fifth against Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook, driving in one run. Sadly, Drew had two shots at the cycle but ended up doubling in the sixth and reaching on an error in the eighth.

You can see Webb in action again this Wednesday against the Florida Marlins.

[Arizona Republic] | [AZ Snakepit] | [Shyster Ball]

Obligatory Yanks Are in Last Place Post

2008-05-16T01:16:00.005-05:00

The New York Yankees are in last place in the AL East. The Tampa Bay Rays are in first.

The end.

[Left Coast Sports Babe] | [Red Sox Chick] | [Tampa Forums]

Ryan Dempster: We're So Proud

2008-05-15T16:09:00.001-05:00

Ryan Dempster struck out a career-high 12 batters -- in one game -- during the Chicago Cubs 4-0 win over the struggling San Diego Padres on Friday afternoon.

The 31-year-old right-hander, who has impressively compiled a 5-1 record and 2.35 ERA, gave up six hits over 8.1 innings, tossing 115 pitches and walking one batter. After Brian Giles singled in the first, Dempster retired the next 15 batters he faced.

Not to take anything away from Lilly and Dempster's lights out performances, but what does this say about the Pads?

They whiffed 14 times total, one day after striking out 15 times against Ted Lilly and the Cubs’ pen. Blanked for the fourth time this season, these bums have the fewest number of runs at 140 and the crappiest batting average in the majors at .233.

[Chicago Tribune] | [Bleed Cubbie Blue] | [The Cub Reporter] | [Baseball Musings]

Braun Get the Big Bucks

2008-05-15T13:56:00.003-05:00

After agreeing to the largest contract in Milwaukee Brewers history, Ryan Braun is no doubt one happy kid.

The 24-year-old left fielder celebrated his 8-year, $45 million deal Thursday by hitting a solo shot off Jonathon Broxton in the eighth inning of his team's 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

During his NL Rookie of the Year season in 2007, Braun hit .324 with 34 homers and 97 RBIs over 113 games after he was called up in late May. This season, he's batting .286 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs. He totally stole a base once, too.

The second-largest deal in Brew Crew history now belongs to Jeff Suppan, who was given a $42 million for four years as a free agent before last season.

[WI Radio] | [Brewers Nation] | [Walkoff Walk] | [Foul Balls]

Joyeux Anniversaire!

2008-05-15T11:45:00.008-05:00

Justin Morneau,

You're fricking awesome. Since you're my Canadian Crusher, I thought I'd learn how to wish you a Happy Birthday in French.

Ummm... fin.

Brought to You by the Letter W

2008-05-15T06:38:00.009-05:00

It's been a little while since Tom Glavine enjoyed a victory in an Atlanta Braves uniform.

The 42-year-old veteran lefty pitched 5.2 solid innings to earn his first win for Atlanta in six years with an 8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. He surrendered 4 earned runs on four hits, fanning four and walking two.

Meanwhile, Chipper Jones (3 more!) Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson teed off on Brett Myers, each hitting solo shots while Brian McCann drove in three runs of support for Glavine, who hadn’t won a game with the Braves since beating who else, but the Phils on Sept. 19, 2002, just before his five-year hiatus in New York City.

[AP] | [Braves Nation] | [Talking Chop]

Hope to See Big Z and Jimmy Duke It Out

2008-05-15T05:14:00.010-05:00

It didn't take Jim Edmonds long to find himself a new home. Five days, to be exact.

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract with the 37-year-old outfielder Wednesday, after he was dumped by the San Diego Padres. He'll have to earn his playing time however, as center fielder Reed Johnson has been doing alright, batting .256 with a homer and 17 RBIs.

Too bad for youngster Felix Pie, who is now headed to the AAA Iowa Cubs to work out his batting kinks after striking out 23 times in 66 at bats and batting only .222.

Heading into his new uni, Edmonds -- an eight-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star -- is batting a shoddy .178 with 1 home run and 6 RBIs on the season.

So, is Carlos Zambrano pissed? Cause, he is so not above punching his own teammates in the face, repeatedly.

Anyway, this move totally confuses me. Does Jim Edmonds have anything left in his old-ass tank? I guess... he is a left-handed hitter. Yay optimism!

[AP] | [Rumors and Rants] | [Hardball] | [Bleacher Report] | [Ivy Envy]

Manny Being Manny Being Awesome

2008-05-14T18:23:00.009-05:00

The absolutely ridiculous chain of events you are about to see went down during the Boston Red Sox 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday afternoon.

On the hunt for career homer #500, Manny Ramirez remains undistracted. He flashed some leather at Camden to rob former teammate Kevin Millar of an extra base hit before high-fiving a fan on his way down, planting, and nailing cutoff man Dustin Pedroia, who relayed to Kevin Youkilis at first to get Aubrey Huff for an inning-ending double play.

Bad. Ass.

Check out an interview with the high-fivee here at A Lost Ogle!

[MLB] | [Awful Announcing] | [The Joy of Sox] | [Center Field] | [SOX & Dawgs]

Return of Shawn Estes

2008-05-14T11:41:00.015-05:00

Thanks in part to Khalil Greene's three-run bomb, a wild pitch by Chicago Cubs' righty Jason Marquis, and a double by Jody Gerut, San Diego Padres lefty Shawn Estes is officially a 100-game winner.

He started all of one game in 2006 before sitting out last season to recover from Tommy John surgery, earning his first win since 2005 in the 4-3 victory Tuesday. He's been gone so long, we didn't even have a tag for him.

The 35-year-old Estes, who is now 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, pitched 5.1 innings before handing the ball to the Pads' bullpen, who shut it down with 3.2 hitless innings of relief.

Way to go, buddy!

[MLB.com] | [The Big Picture] | [Trapped in LA]

Blah Blah Steroids

2008-05-14T07:00:00.008-05:00

It would appear that The Man means business regarding this whole Barry Bonds fiasco, after federal prosecutors revealed a new and improved, unsealed indictment against The Home Run King.

Bonds' lead attorney, Allen Ruby, stands by his client however, saying that nothing has changed with the case.

"Barry Bonds is innocent," Ruby claimed after the former San Francisco Giants star was charged, this time with 14 counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice.

Barry was originally charged with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction. Prosecutors more than tripled the perjury counts -- even though no new lies were alleged -- by the order of Judge Susan Illston back in February because multiple [alleged] fibs were crammed together into single charges.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

[AP] | [Mudville] | [Deadspin] | [Law Bites]

Can I Get a Fist Pump?

2008-05-13T15:25:00.001-05:00

Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage apparently took issue with some of Joba Chamberlain's on-field antics during a Hall of Fame tour Monday, saying he felt there was "no place in the game" for things like fist-pumping after a strikeout.

The New York Yankees' rookie right-hander is an animated kid, and tends to get pretty fired up about making outs. But is he totally out of line? I mean, has Goose ever seen Jose Valverde pitch? Holy smokes.

The two sides relayed opinions over the phone Tuesday, but accomplished little more than to agree to disagree.

"Everybody has their own opinion," Chamberlain said. "It is what it is. I am not going to change."

Of course, you don't want to over-use the fist pump. It has its place and tends to lose effect if you're going to bust one out every time you fan somebody. So, when is it okay to show emotion on the field?

[NY Times] | [Fire Jay Mariotti] | [Schtick's Schtick]

Molina #3 Flips Out

2008-05-13T09:50:00.005-05:00

St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina was more than a little unhappy with home plate umpire Paul Schrieber Monday.

Catching the fifth inning of the 8-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the little Molina was tossed for arguing balls and strikes on the Corey Hart at bat, leading him to relocate his gear to a frumpy pile at Blue's feet.

Cards skipper Tony La Russa, despite being surrounded by Molina's discarded equipment while defending his player and getting himself ejected, denies knowing his catcher took it off until he left the field.

I hear eye sight is the first to go, then one day, you're wandering the streets in your bathrobe.

[MLB.com] | [Knox Harrington] | [Bare Baseball]

The Tampa Bay Rays are Serious

2008-05-13T09:02:00.009-05:00

Remember when the Tampa Bay Rays defense was like a circus act and their lineup was kind of a joke? Like... two years ago?

Well, don't let the sun-shiny logo fool you. They are straight us business now.

Coming off a weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, the Rays pounded the New York Yankees 7-1 Monday night for their fifth consecutive win, inching within a half-game of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. This last victory was a bit sweeter, as they defeated evil nemesis Andy Pettitte, who allowed five runs on eight hits over just four innings of work after a previous record of 8-1 at Tropicana Field.

This trade with the Twins? Looking pretty good for Tampa right now. Matt Garza is 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA over three straight quality starts since returning from the disabled list at the end of April, while Jason Bartlett has improved their defense and contributed some key hits, raising his average to .248.

Speaking of defense, Akinori Iwamura continues to shine up the middle, as the only starting second baseman in the AL without an error. He is also riding a team-best 10-game hitting streak coming into Tuesday's game against Yankees' ace Chien-Ming Wang, who is 7-4 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.53 ERA in 12 starts.

Our baseball-betting tip of the day: watch out for the 21-13 Rays, who are five games over .500 for the first time in the franchise's 11-year history. Just sayin'.

[TSN] | [The Heater] | [Rays Index] | [Rays Homeplate]

Snag, Bag and Tag

2008-05-12T20:30:00.009-05:00

During the second game of the double-header between the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays, Asdrubal Cabrera experienced something most big leaguers never get to.

A rare, unassisted triple play. Seriously? There aren't many things in the world more badass that that.

Just a bit more awesome than Cliff Lee's near-non-existent ERA.

[Examiner Ohio]

Ned Yost Springs into Action!

2008-05-12T06:21:00.007-05:00

Eric Gagne has been sucking at his job dating back to last season, when he refused to save a game for the Boston Red Sox after being traded there by the Texas Rangers.

Somehow, he landed a free agent contract off the hot stove with the Milwaukee Brewers last winter, and has since managed to blow five games in 14 chances, including three of his last six. As expected this weekend, the struggling righty was yanked from the closer's spot after his comments in Saturday's edition of Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"I don't deserve that ninth inning right now. It's very simple," he said. "It's embarrassing."

Is there some sort of mental issue here? Does this guy have more problems than just sucking at baseball?

Gagne, who at one time was actually the best reliever in baseball and now has a 1-2 record with a 6.89 ERA, has allowed 18 hits, walked 11, and surrendered 12 earned runs over just 15 innings this season.

Manager Ned Yost, who is also struggling to keep his job at this juncture, said it was a simple mechanics issue for Gagne, which is easily fixed. Yost went on to say the load will be stacked on the shoulders of the entire bullpen for now, with quite possibly as many as three pitchers handling the ninth, if need be.

Those three would likely be Salomon Torres, who has 29 career saves, David Riske with 20 and Guillermo Mota with 19.

On a lighter note, if you were ever wondering who the best shortstop in the history of the world is, look no further than The Grand National Championships, who are also fed up with this Eric Gagne business.

[Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel] | [Brewers Blog] | [Red Sox Monster]

Francona vs. Big Papi: Who you got?

2008-05-11T21:44:00.006-05:00

It's a classic story. Manager does interview. Player clowns around in the background. Manager threatens to kick player's ass. Even better when the manager is Terry Francona and the player is David Ortiz.

The magic happens at the end of the interview.

I seriously think Francona could take him.

Pink Bats are Tough

2008-05-11T07:14:00.021-05:00

According to komen.org, an estimated 182,460 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2008 alone. Chances are, you or someone you know has been, or will be affected by the disease. Major League Baseball is trying to make a difference for the third year in a row.

What began two years ago as an expression of charity has become a solid tradition, as baseball will once again celebrate Mother's Day by wielding pink bats.

Partnering with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, the signed bats will eventually be auctioned off on MLB.com with all proceeds going to fight breast cancer.

Players will again wear pink wristbands and necklaces, along with pink ribbons on their unis. Pink ribbon logos will adorn the bases and home plates (also to be auctioned) and even the dugout lineup cards will be pink.

Furthermore, our buddies over at Home Run Derby will generously pledge $10 to the cure for each home run hit today. Awesome.

Moms are pretty great. You know, without them, we wouldn't even be around.

Here are a few lovely photos of some of our favorite baseball players' wives and mothers, whom without they'd be totally lost.

This heart-warming story is sure to have you calling your mother to say thanks and I love ya, and this one is always worth another chuckle.

Also, if you're wondering what it's like to be a female sports blogger, check out an interview I was honored to be a part of, alongside a woman with actual journalistic credentials, at Baseball Digest Daily.

It's About Damn Time

2008-05-11T07:10:00.009-05:00

After five failed attempts, San Diego Padres veteran Greg Maddux has finally earned his 350th victory.

Just the ninth pitcher in big league history to reach the mark, the future Hall of Famer improved to 350-217 over 23 big league seasons. This is just one more milestone to accompany his four NL Cy Young Awards, a World Series ring and a record 17 Gold Glove Awards.

Maddux (3-3, 3.60 ERA) pitched six solid innings against the Colorado Rockies for a 3-2 victory, retiring his first seven batters and finishing with no earned runs on 3 hits and a strikeout.

"It was kind of cool," said the 42-year-old righty. "I don’t want to make it out to be nothing, but it is May and we haven’t been playing that good... We need to start winning as a team and hopefully tonight is the start of things to come."

Yeah, just kind of cool. If "kind of cool" means fricking amazing.

Spankin' new catcher Luke Carlin, who made his big league debut Saturday just a day after his contract was purchased from the AAA Portland Beavers, said he’ll never forget catching both Maddux and old school closer Trevor Hoffman during his first day on the job.

"I was happy for him," Maddux said. "Your first day in the big leagues, trust me, is a lot more special than things you do later in your career."

Sadly, it was just the fifth win in 23 games for the 13-24 Padres, who own the crappiest record in baseball.

[Union Tribune] | [SD Friars] | [Tireball] | [Ducksnorts]

Ramirez, Fish Close to Deal

2008-05-11T06:01:00.005-05:00

The Florida Marlins have agreed in principle to a $70 million, six-year contract to keep Hanley Ramirez around to play in their new stadium in 2011.

This is huge news for the 24-year-old shortstop, who has played for the team with the lowest payroll in baseball ($22 million) for the past three seasons. If this deal goes through, it would be the most valuable in franchise history, topping the $61 million, six-year contract inked by Gary Sheffield in 1997.

With their new ballpark in sight, there are a few players who will seek large raises in arbitration in this coming offseason, including first baseman Mike Jacobs, second baseman Dan Uggla, left fielder Josh Willingham, and lefty Scott Olsen.

[FOX Sports] | [The Daily Stache] | [Fish Stripes]

Wells Lands on Wrist, DL

2008-05-10T19:55:00.014-05:00

Vernon Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday with a broken left wrist, and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks of the season.

The two-time All-Star center-fielder was injured while making a spectacular diving catch Friday night in Cleveland, when he came down on his left hand while robbing Franklin Gutierrez of an extra-base hit.

The loss of Wells is the latest of many frustrations to hit the banged-up Blue Jays. Averaging just 3.1 runs over the last 23 games, they are also without infielders David Eckstein and John McDonald, who landed on the DL with a strained right hip flexor and sprained right ankle, respectively, on Thursday. Reliever Jeremy Accardo is also out of commission, after experiencing tightness in his right forearm.

Of course, the Jays are somewhat prepared. They signed Brad Wilkerson and acquired Kevin Mench from the Texas Rangers on Friday in an attempt to toughen up their crappy offense.

Alex Rios is now expected to move to center field to replace Wells, and Wilkerson will play mostly in right, with Mench platooning left with Shannon Stewart and maybe even DHing with Matt Stairs.

[National Post] | [Blue Jays Locker] | [Disabled List Informer] | [The Southpaw]

1,082 Sheets to the Wind

2008-05-10T16:09:00.010-05:00

Ben Sheets has just become the Milwaukee Brewers all-time strikeouts leader, after fanning Albert Pujols during the first inning of Saturday afternoon's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 29-year-old righty surpassed Brewers great Ted Higuera with his 1,082nd career strikeout in his eighth season with the club, striking out Aaron Miles before getting Pujols to swing and miss. Rather retributive, as Prince Albert has a career .403 batting average when facing Sheets.

The three-time All-Star is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA for the Beermakers this season, pretty much carrying their entire pitching staff.

Also, let them have maple.

[MLB.com] | [Brewers Blog] | [Brewers Bar] | [Brew Crew Ball]

No More Neshek Shuffle

2008-05-10T06:19:00.004-05:00

Pat Neshek and the Minnesota Twins saw the bad news coming.

The side-winding set-up man injured himself on a slider in the eighth Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, describing the feeling as a "tweak" in the joint. After an MRI on Friday revealed an acute partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow-- the same ligament repaired during Tommy John surgery -- he landed on the 15-day disabled list.

Neshek won't be throwing any baseballs for at least three months, which pretty much leaves him out for the season, but surgery isn't likely.

"So we're going to prepare for opening day next year. It just needs a little bit of time to heal and a little bit of rehab to build it back up," he said.

In 15 appearances this season (13.1 innings) Neesh was 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA with 15 strikeouts. Replacing him on the roster is lefty Glen Perkins, who was recalled from the AAA Rochester Red Wings to start Saturday again the Boston Red Sox. Rightys Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier will share the eighth-inning load for lights-out closer Joe Nathan in Neshek's absence.

Well, at least they won.

[Star Tribune] | [Twinkie Town ] | [108 Stitches] | [Rand Ball]

Weed Out the Crap: Jim Edmonds

2008-05-10T02:10:00.002-05:00

Jim Edmonds is kinda old and kinda done.

Before being released by the struggling San Diego Padres on Friday, his batting average had fallen to .178 -- just 16-for-90 over 26 games -- with one homer and six RBIs.

Also, his fielding had become that of a 9-year-old bench-warmer with autism.

The 37-year-old Edmonds, a four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glover, began the season on the DL with a right calf strain he sustained during Spring Training. He was activated on April 5th and has sucked ever since.

His ~~firing~~ conversation with manager Bud Black has been described as "very apologetic" on Edmonds' part.

Note to the Pads, who will eat $4.7 million for this move, Jim Edmonds is only the tip of your problematic iceberg.

Ever wonder what the ten worst contracts in baseball are? Rumors and Rants were kind enough to compile a list.

[AP] | [Walkoff Walk] | [6-4-2] | [Transaction Guy]

[Insert Andruw Jones Joke Here]

2008-05-10T00:30:00.003-05:00

Instead of having her toss the ceremonial first pitch Friday, maybe Los Angeles Dodgers officials should have considered Kristi Yamaguchi to replace that one guy who used to be awesome and somehow starts in center field these days.

Check out eTrue Sport's Raighne Davidson's take on the struggling outfielder.